Stage Raw: The Fifth Annual Stage Raw Theater Awards Nominees!

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This year’s ceremony culminates a theater festival weekend, running Sept. 6-9 at Los Angeles Theatre Center

By Steven Leigh Morris

Stage Raw announces the nominees for its fifth annual Stage Raw Theater Awards, to be held Monday night September 9, 2019, at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday August 7, 2019. The Stage Raw Theater Awards honor the finest work performed on Los Angeles area stages of 99-seats or fewer, and are selected by a jury of Stage Raw critics. This year’s awards celebrate work performed between June 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019. 

This year’s Awards ceremony will be the culminating event of the 2019 Stage Raw/PLAY LA Theater Festival Weekend, September 6-9 at Los Angeles Theatre Center, and will involve readings of six new plays, and two colloquies, all to be announced soon. The Festival Weekend is a program of The HUMANITAS Prize, Stage Raw and LA STAGE Alliance, with additional support from Latino Theatre Company/Los Angeles Theatre Center and the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs. Theaters involved in the Festival Weekend include: Ammunition Theatre Company, Echo Theater Company, Latino Theatre Company, Rogue Machine, The Skylight Theatre, and Theatre of NOTE.

IAMA Theatre Company and Ammunition Theatre Company (“Ammo”) will co-host the 2019 Stage Raw Theater Awards, designing an innovative celebration of live theater that honors the local theater community while placing particular focus on both L.A.’s legacy theaters and its emerging companies. Music by Verbal and Icarus, and DJ Eartha Litt.

Currently in its 12th year, IAMA Theatre Company is an L.A.-based ensemble of artists committed to invigorating live performance for a streaming generation. Through cutting-edge, cool and hyper-modern stories, IAMA is invested in the immediacy of production, and strives to bring audiences out of their personal space and into a shared experience.

Ammo was founded in 2015 by a group of passionate artists and activists to reflect the diverse, evolving identity of America. By fostering original works, Ammo’s mission is to celebrate underrepresented communities and their stories while inspiring the society that we live in to do the same. Ammo values inclusivity, community, and service, which they practice in their creative and philanthropic endeavors

The nominees for the 2019 Stage Raw Theater Awards are:

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY

  1. Jen Albert  – Marian, or The True Tale of Robin Hood, Theatre of NOTE

VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN

  1. David Murakami – Bronco Billy – The Musical, Skylight Theatre Company
  2. Yee Eun Nam – Black Super Hero Magic Mama, Geffen Playhouse: Audrey Skirball Kennis Theater

SOUND DESIGN

  1. Peter Bayne – Daniel’s Husband, The Fountain Theatre
  2. John Farmanesh-Bocca and Adam Phalen – Lysistrata Unbound, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble
  3. Jeff Gardner – American Saga: Gunshot Medley – Part 1, Rogue Machine Theatre
  4. Stephen George – Lost in Time, Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA
  5. John Nobori – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena

LIGHTING DESIGN

  1. Tor Brown – American Saga: Gunshot Medley – Part 1, Rogue Machine Theatre
  2. Matthew Brian Denman – Cabaret, Celebration Theatre
  3. Josh Epstein – American Hero, IAMA Theatre Company
  4. Brian Gale – Bronco Billy – The Musical, Skylight Theatre Company
  5. John A. Garofalo – Cost of Living, The Fountain Theatre
  6. David Hernandez – The Judas Kiss, Boston Court Pasadena
  7. Karyn D. Lawrence – How We’re Different From Animals, ÉLAN Ensemble
  8. Jaymi Lee Smith – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena

Donna Simone Johnson, Inger Tudor, Kita Grayson and Cheri Lynne VandenHeuvel in Inda Craig-Galván’s I Go Somewhere Else by Playwrights’ Arena at Atwater Village Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Playwrights’ Arena). Nominated for Playwriting, Direction, Leading Female Performance, Ensemble and Production of the Year.

COSTUME DESIGN

  1. Ann Closs-Farley – Bronco Billy – The Musical, Skylight Theatre Company
  2. Dianne K. Graebner – The Judas Kiss, Boston Court Pasadena
  3. Terri A. Lewis – The Little Foxes, Antaeus Theatre Company
  4. Michael Mullen – Cabaret, Celebration Theatre
  5. Mylette Nora – August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre

ORIGINAL MUSIC

  1. Romero Mosley – Hype Man, The Fountain Theatre
  2. Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres – Bronco Billy – The Musical, Skylight Theatre Company

CHOREOGRAPHY

  1. Stephen Buescher – Stockholm, Triptych Theatre Group
  2. John Farmanesh-Bocca – Lysistrata Unbound, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble
  3. ÉLAN Ensemble – How We’re Different From Animals, Atwater Village Theatre 
  4. Janet Roston – Bronco Billy – The Musical, Skylight Theatre Company
  5. Janet Roston – Cabaret, Celebration Theatre

MUSICAL DIRECTION

  1. Patrick Gandy – The Color Purple, Greenway Arts Alliance
  2. Richard Levinson – Finks, Rogue Machine Theatre
  3. Anthony Lucca – Bronco Billy – The Musical, Skylight Theatre Company
  4. Anthony Zediker – Cabaret, Celebration Theatre

Devin Sidell, Madeleine Heil and Julie Bersani in Amy Dellagiarino’s The Value of Moscow by Sacred Fools Theater Company at the Broadwater Second Stage. (Photo by Matt Kamimura). Nominated for Playwriting, Comedy Direction, and Female Comedy Performance 

SET DESIGN

  1. François-Pierre Couture – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena
  2. Stephen Gifford – Cabaret, Celebration Theatre
  3. Justin Huen – American Hero, IAMA Theatre Company
  4. John Iacovelli – August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre
  5. John Iacovelli – Bronco Billy, Skylight Theatre Company
  6. John Iacovelli – The Little Foxes, Antaeus Theatre Company
  7. DeAnne Millais – Daniel’s Husband, The Fountain Theatre
  8. Anna Robinson – Stockholm, Triptych Theatre Group

TWO PERSON PERFORMANCE

  1. Barra Grant and Monica Piper – Miss America’s Ugly Daughter: Bess Myerson & Me, Pageant Productions and Canon Theatricals
  2. Burt Grinstead and Anna Stromberg – Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Los Angeles LGBT Center
  3. Medalion Rahimi and Jeff Marlow – Paradise, JuVee Productions and American Oasis

FEMALE COMEDY PERFORMANCE

  1. Lee Garlington – The Joy Wheel, Ruskin Group Theatre
  2. Madeleine Heil – The Value of Moscow, Sacred Fools Theater Company
  3. Anna LaMadrid – American Hero, IAMA Theatre Company
  4. Jenny Soo – Gloria, The Echo Theater Company

MALE COMEDY PERFORMANCE

  1. Adam J. Jefferis – Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Actors’ Gang
  2. Todd Merrill – Resa Fantastisk Mystisk, Burglars of Hamm
  3. Rahul Rai – The Rescued, The Road Theatre Company
  4. Maury Sterling – The Joy Wheel, Ruskin Group Theatre
  5. Michael Sturgis – Gloria, The Echo Theater Company
  6. Bob Turton – Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Actors’ Gang

SUPPORTING FEMALE PERFORMANCE

  1. Sorel Carradine – Nude/Naked, Lightning Rod Theater
  2. June Carryl – Cabaret, Celebration Theatre
  3. Jenny O’Hara – Daniel’s Husband, The Fountain Theatre
  4. Nija Okoro – August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre
  5. Xochitl Romero – Cost of Living, The Fountain Theatre
  6. Clarissa Thibeaux – Hype Man, The Fountain Theatre
  7. Jocelyn Towne – The Little Foxes, Antaeus Theatre Company
  8. Caitlin Zambito – The Wolves, The Echo Theater Company(more)

Leo Marks and Erika Soto in Sarah B. Mantell’s Everything That Never Happened at Boston Court Pasadena. (Photo by Jenny Graham). Nominated for Playwriting, Sound Design, Lighting Design, Set Design, Supporting Male (two noms), Leading Female Performance, Direction and Production of the Year.

SUPPORTING MALE PERFORMANCE

  1. Colin Bates – The Judas Kiss, Boston Court Pasadena
  2. Stephen Caffrey – The Cripple of Inishmaan, Antaeus Theatre Company
  3. John DeMita – The Little Foxes, Antaeus Theatre Company
  4. Derek Jackson – American Saga: Gunshot Medley – Part 1, Rogue Machine Theatre
  5. Leo Marks – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena
  6. Mike McShane – The Little Foxes, Antaeus Theatre Company
  7. Dorian Missick – August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre
  8. Rob Nagle – The Little Foxes, Antaeus Theatre Company
  9. Dylan Saunders – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena
  10. Adolphus Ward – August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre

LEADING FEMALE PERFORMANCE

  1. Kimberly Alexander – Stockholm, Triptych Theatre Group
  2. Francesca Casale – All My Sons, Wasatch Theatrical Ventures
  3. Jackie Chung – Cry It Out, The Echo Theater Company
  4. Diana Cignoni – Faith Healer, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
  5. Cherish Monique Duke – At the Table, The Road Theatre Company
  6. Megan Ketch – Cry It Out, The Echo Theater Company
  7. Deborah Puette – The Little Foxes, Antaeus Theatre Company
  8. Erika Soto – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena
  9. Katy Sullivan – Cost of Living, The Fountain Theatre
  10. Cheri Lynne VandenHeuvel – I Go Somewhere Else, Playwrights’ Arena

LEADING MALE PERFORMANCE

  1. Ron Bottitta – Faith Healer, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
  2. Matthew Hancock – Hype Man, The Fountain Theatre
  3. Rob Nagle – The Judas Kiss, Boston Court Pasadena
  4. Alex Nee – Cabaret, Celebration Theatre
  5. Montae Russell – August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre
  6. Felix Solis – Cost of Living, The Fountain Theatre
  7. French Stewart – Finks, Rogue Machine Theatre

ADAPTATION

  1. ÉLAN Ensemble – How We’re Different From Animals, Atwater Village Theatre
  2. Burt Grinstead and Anna Stromberg – Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Los Angeles LGBT Center

PLAYWRITING

  1. Inda Craig-Galván – I Go Somewhere Else, Playwrights’ Arena
  2. Amy Dellagiarino – The Value of Moscow, Sacred Fools Theater Company
  3. Sarah B. Mantell – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena
  4. Julie Marie Myatt – The Rescued, The Road Theatre Company

Meeghan Holaway and Rahul Rai in Julie Marie Myatt’s The Rescued by The Road Theatre Company at The Road on Magnolia. (Photo by Brian M. Cole). Nominated for Playwriting, Comedy Ensemble, Male Comedy Performance and Direction.

PRODUCTION DESIGN

  1. August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre
  2. Bronco Billy – The Musical, Skylight Theatre Company
  3. Cabaret, Celebration Theatre

COMEDY ENSEMBLE

  1. Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Actors’ Gang
  2. American Hero, IAMA Theatre Company
  3. Gloria, The Echo Theater Company
  4. The Rescued, The Road Theatre Company

ENSEMBLE

  1. At The Table, The Road Theatre Company
  2. August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre
  3. How We’re Different From Animals, ÉLAN Ensemble
  4. I Go Somewhere Else, Playwrights’ Arena
  5. The Color Purple, Greenway Arts Alliance
  6. The Wolves, The Echo Theater Company

COMEDY DIRECTION

  1. Hunter Bird – Bronco Billy — The Musical, Skylight Theatre Company
  2. James Eckhouse – American Hero, IAMA Theatre Company
  3. Chris Fields – Gloria, The Echo Theater Company
  4. Carrie Keranen – The Value of Moscow, Sacred Fools Theater Company

DIRECTION

  1. Lindsay Allbaugh – Cry It Out, The Echo Theater Company
  2. Alana Dietze – The Wolves, The Echo Theater Company
  3. Jessica Kubzansky – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena
  4. Michael Matthews – Cabaret, Celebration Theatre
  5. Marya Mazor – The Rescued, The Road Theatre Company
  6. Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx – How We’re Different From Animals, ÉLAN Ensemble
  7. Jon Lawrence Rivera – I Go Somewhere Else, Playwrights’ Arena
  8. Kim Rubenstein – Stockholm, Triptych Theatre Group
  9. Michele Shay – August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre
  10. Cameron Watson – The Little Foxes, Antaeus Theatre Company

REVIVAL OF THE YEAR

  1. Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Actors’ Gang
  2. August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Sophina Brown at The Matrix Theatre
  3. Cabaret, Celebration Theatre
  4. Faith Healer, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR

  1. Cost of Living, The Fountain Theatre
  2. Cry It Out, The Echo Theater Company
  3. Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena
  4. Gloria, The Echo Theater Company
  5. How We’re Different From Animals, ÉLAN Ensemble
  6. I Go Somewhere Else, Playwrights’ Arena
  7. The Wolves, The Echo Theater Company

The Stage Raw Theater Awards are made possible with the support of Latino Theatre Company/Los Angeles Theatre Center and the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs.